Amazing Advertisers | August 2013

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

How do months go so quickly? Father Time has some serious answering to do.

As I'm sure you will have seen, I'm really excited to have jumped back into blogging after my well needed break and as always, I'm excited to share the lovely ladies (and occasionally men) who star in the side bar. 

Oh August. 

Stickygram

Stickygram excites me. They are a super cool company that take your instagram photographs and turn them into magnets that you can adorn your home with. As a huge fan of the insta app, I am always looking for new ways to display my creations and I think these are a great option. I know quite a few people who have raved about this site so I'm really keen to see what it has to offer. Keep your eyes peeled for more of Stickygram on my blog, we are working on something special for you all. 

Hello I Am Mariam

Mariam's blog is an exciting mix of creative writing, beauty reviews, mini hauls and life experience. I was really interested to read about Mariam's experiences as a ChildLine Volunteer and how the whole process worked. If you are interested in making a difference, her's is a frank and open insight into it all. I was also so impressed by Mariam's creative writing. I was literally hooked after the first two lines and felt very invested in the story. This is a blog I want to read every single post ever on. Goodbye weekend!!

Life Is Worth The Fight

Stacie is a long term advertiser with Sprinkle of Glitter and every time I check in on her blog I am left inspired and humbled. Stacie suffers with Pulmonary Hypertension and is waiting patiently on the donor list for new, shiny organs. Stacie writes candidly of her fears and hopes but also demonstrates that with a positive and open attitude she can go about her life and experience so much without her illness holding her back. Go and have a read, you won't regret it. 

Charlotte's Web

Charlotte and her Web (see what I did there?) have been on my reading list for many moons now. Her blog is the perfect Saturday morning read with a mix of fun and 'oh I want to do that too'. She is honest in her descriptions (yep, being tipsy does make it easier to ignore pickled cucumbers) and her photographs are real, not overly tinkered with to the point where you feel embarrassed of your own efforts (we all know those blogs). In short, you will just love Charlotte's slice of the net. It's just what a blog should be. 

Sophie Jane

Sophie Jane is relatively new to the blogging world, having started in April but you can very clearly see how much she is enjoying it. With posts predominantly about food and beauty (a couple of my very favourite things in life!) Sophie Jane offers an array of meal inspiration and tips on how to be the hostess with the mostess. If you are looking for something to jazz up your next night in with friends, this might be the blog for you. 

That's all for today Sprinklerinos. Anyone there that tickles your pickle?

If you would like to advertise with Sprinkle of Glitter, head on over to the Sponsor tab at the top of the page (just under my header) to see all the details and price range. 

Toodlepip!

xx

To find new ways to stalk me or learn about my disclosure policy, click HERE. 

Ultimate Advertiser - Stickygram. Click HERE for more info. 

Friday Fess-Up

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

I'm writing this post with no plan or notes or agenda. I'm just writing. Matt is watching a french DVD on his laptop, the baby is in bed and the fairy lights are lit. Perfect blogging conditions. It's like the olden days. Blogging for the sake of sharing thoughts and letting my brain spill out in a mess of things I like, things I don't, ideas, images, the lot. 

 Excited to be home in blogland!

If you are an avid reader, you might have noticed my absence. I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I haven't provided something for you to read each day but I'm not sorry that I took a break. I feel refreshed. I feel ready. I feel like I have a new and happy direction to walk in.

The problem I have (and prepare for this post to get rambly) is that I am a sponge that reads too much. I read beauty blogs, lifestyle blogs, DIY blogs, interior blogs, money saving blogs, haul blogs, funny blogs, mummy blogs, A LOT OF BLOGS. I see things I like and think, 'Oh yes, I could do something along those lines' and so I do. I get addicted to a blog or writer and read EVERYTHING they have ever written and wish I could be a bit like them. I felt like I was loosing myself in a see of brilliant blogs and that I could firmly grasp an identity for this place. It was a good problem to have- I wanted to do TOO MANY things. I once was a craft blog, and then a beauty blog, and then an everything blog.

From now on, this is a Louise Blog. That's the category. Louise. 

I am giving myself permission to write about anything that brings me joy. If it is a beauty product that I have adored then I'll tell you, if I have had a good flurry of instapics then I'll share, if Baby Glitter did something precious then I'll document it. I want to document my life. I want to photograph my home and cherish the things I purchase and share my loves and dreams and hopes and thoughts. 

Jersey top || ASOS

I'm still going to read all those blogs because they enrich my mind. But I'm going to be healthy about it. I'm going to read them and congratulate them on being so brilliant. And then I'm going to settle down and be myself. 

I almost feel embarrassed that it's taken me this many months and weeks to realise this, especially as I had so many blog friends (thank you El) tell me the same, but I guess I just had to feel it, rather than know it. 

I know it now. I don't want to quit, I want to do quite the opposite. 

I want to incorporate all my worlds on here. I want to share all the amazing YouTube things I do, all the places I go and all the glamour, as well as my home life. For the longest time I have shielded my blog from the glitz of YouTube land because I felt it would be un-humble to talk too much about it. I was afraid you would think I've changed or that I am becoming someone above her station. After quite a lot of thought it dawned on me that you would most likely just be happy for me (as I would for you) and that it would be really exciting to have you along for the ride. I'm not silly, I know these experiences (trips to America, premieres, swish hotels etc) won't last forever so I am savouring it all and would love to have you all involved. 

On top of that, I am FINALLY finishing off my home, room by room. We moved in over four years ago! I had a year to arrange the major things (rewiring and kitchen fitting) and then I fell pregnant. I lost my job, was tired all the time, had a bambino, Sprinkle of Glitter took off and the house was left by the wayside. With the help of ideas from across the web (God bless pinterest), I have started styling my home into a space I am really proud of.

Being at home is my most happy place. I would choose it over ANYWHERE. I look forward to weeks where I know I don't have to leave and I yearn to be here when I'm away. Since it's so special to me, it makes sense to show a bit more of it on this blog. 

Oooooeeeeee I've written a lot very quickly. That all just fell out in about 30 seconds. With that off my chest, I feel pretty confident in saying that I'm back. I have a huge list of posts I want to write and new vigour to write them.

Stick around, things are about to get fun!

If you have anything particular you would like to read on this blog, now is your chance to tell me. I can't wait to hear from you.

Toodlepip!

xx

To find new ways to stalk me or learn about my disclosure policy, click HERE. 

Ultimate Advertiser - Stickygram. Click HERE for more info. 

Dare To Be Different

Aloha Sprinklerinos,

 Dress || H&M. Cardi || Primark. Slingbacks || Miss Selfridge. Bag || Zara

Since I was a young teen, I've worn glasses.  I like to alternate between contacts and glasses and have about 3 (haha excessive much?) prescription pairs to match to my outfits. When SpecSavers contacted me and asked if I wanted to be involved in their new Osiris campaign, I was really interested to learn more about the range.

With over 60 frames to choose from in an array of colours, patterns and sizes, there is definitely going to be something in the Osiris Collection that suits you.

When selecting my pairs (I was sent lenless frames to style and play with), I opted for bold colours and larger frames to balance my face and vibrant hair out. I think the key to choosing frames is to first select a size and shape that suits you and then stick to those guidelines. Much like choosing a dress, if you know what cut flatters your figure, the task is much less daunting and you have more chance of finding the perfect fit.

To go with my slightly cat-eyed shaped frames I opted for a 1950's style dress, a pastel (oh pastels, why are you so brilliant?) cardi and to give the whole ensemble a little bit of an edge and compliment the frames, black slingbacks and city bag. I travelled down to London in this (including the lensless glasses!) and felt very ladylike. I have also worn these frames with jeans and tomboy chic sweater tops so they are seriously versatile. 

I love how all the frames accentuate rather than hide my eyes (a common misconception about glasses) and allow me to still feel confident and attractive. Geek is the new chic after all!

I want women (and men) to never feel like wearing glasses is a set back or something 'bad' about their appearance. My Mum used to insist on taking her glasses off before she had her photo taken! I would love glasses wearers to feel excited about the options they have available to them and the styling possibilities that they create. 

Search for #Osiris to vote for my look as the best! And don’t forget, you can win the whole look including the glasses on the Specsavers Facebook page.

The 2013 Osiris eyewear collection by Jørgen Simonsen is only available at Specsavers and is included in their 2 for 1 offer where two complete pairs are available for £125.    

What do you think? Are LBF (little black frames) the new LBD's? I love being a speccy!

Toodlepip!

Keep your eyes peeled (see what I did there?!) for a lot more on this blog in the very near future!!

xx

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Specsavers via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Specsavers